1
as in to reduce
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the view that such a system degrades doctors to the status of medical employees who ultimately are not in charge of their patients' health care
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to deteriorate
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
degrading the school's animal mascot with a silly costume
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3
as in to humiliate
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
the players degraded themselves with their crude antics off the field
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as in insulting
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value
made degrading comments about his so-called friend behind his back
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1
as in reducing
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the view that such a system degrades doctors to the status of medical employees who ultimately are not in charge of their patients' health care
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorating
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
degrading the school's animal mascot with a silly costume
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in humiliating
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
the players degraded themselves with their crude antics off the field
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of degrade
Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which degrades collagen and slows barrier recovery.
—Allison Palmer
updated June 13, Miami Herald, 13 June 2026
Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
There’s an adjustment period — percale can feel crisp at first — but most people acclimate within a week or two and find cotton softens further with every wash, rather than pilling or degrading like synthetics.
—Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Alexis Montambault-Trudelle, The Conversation, 9 June 2026
The need-to-know this morning Roche is partnering with Nurix Therapeutics to co-develop an experimental antibody treatment that works by degrading, or eliminating, a protein called BTK that is associated with blood cancer and other diseases.
—Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Verb
Backlash over Anthropic’s plan to degrade responses for prompts linked to high-risk responses has been swift with some calling it appalling and hostile to users.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which degrades collagen and slows barrier recovery.
—Allison Palmer
updated June 13, Miami Herald, 13 June 2026
Adjective
In principle, there is no such thing as intrinsically degrading work; degradation is a cultural phenomenon.
—Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
There’s an adjustment period — percale can feel crisp at first — but most people acclimate within a week or two and find cotton softens further with every wash, rather than pilling or degrading like synthetics.
—Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
Seen in this light, Saudi Arabia’s public posture of restraint alongside reported covert support for degrading Iranian power appears to be a deliberate effort to satisfy external security objectives without absorbing the domestic costs of escalation.
—Alexis Montambault-Trudelle, The Conversation, 9 June 2026
The need-to-know this morning Roche is partnering with Nurix Therapeutics to co-develop an experimental antibody treatment that works by degrading, or eliminating, a protein called BTK that is associated with blood cancer and other diseases.
—Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrade
Verb
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New flyover ramps connecting to I-95 would also be built, while sound barriers would be installed along both sides of the corridor to help reduce traffic noise for nearby residents.—
Joan Murray,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
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The rich treatment balances strengthening plant proteins with nourishing rosehip and sweet almond oils to reduce breakage and replenish moisture.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
23 June 2026
Verb
-
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been accused of secluding himself from the deteriorating realities of his invasion of Ukraine.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
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Even though the mice on the sugar-free diet did not gain any extra weight compared to the control group, their internal health indicators deteriorated.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Only the United States was humiliated; both countries have experienced a catastrophic loss.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
18 June 2026
-
However, they were then humiliated 2-1, after extra time, by second division side Torreense in the final.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Kay had to go to Japan to be allowed to do his thing, start and pitch without the threat of being demoted to the minors or released after any bad performance.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
17 June 2026
-
But Schultz was the fifth starter until his injury, and his replacement, David Sandlin, was demoted to Charlotte after three starts.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images BEIJING — China’s consumer spending slowdown persisted in June, with growth during one of the country’s largest online shopping festivals weakening sharply from a year earlier.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
23 June 2026
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All three of those protagonists have been weakened in their roles by what has gone on.—
Nasser Hussain,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Verb
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Instead, they are encouraged to view blue zones primarily through the lens of a sloppy critique that has already been discredited.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
20 June 2026
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This doesn’t discredit the fact that mental and physical changes from menopause can be disorienting and jarring.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
17 June 2026
Verb
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These movies are about shocking and surprising the audience by setting up an expectation and then subverting that expectation.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
17 June 2026
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Director Wes Craven executes a masterclass in tension, shock, and subverting expectations.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Critics wondered whether prices would crash before kickoff, and if swathes of empty seats would embarrass FIFA’s pricing strategy.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
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With no league and no roadmap, a ragtag group of players and an unlikely coach endured a grueling two-year training camp, hoping simply not to embarrass their nation at the first-ever World Cup on American soil.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Degrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrade. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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